Wednesday, April 29, 2009

One of the most anticipated panels at our recent Los Angeles stop on the Weekend of Horrors tour was for DRAG ME TO HELL. Director Sam Raimi (EVIL DEAD, SPIDER-MAN) made his triumphant return to the FANGORIA stage along with stars Justin Long (LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, JEEPERS CREEPERS) and Lorna Raver (BONES, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) to discuss the film, in addition to fielding some questions from the audience.

It's moments like these when having Netflix is worth its weight in gold. Added just a few days ago, you can now check out Bruce Campbell's pet project, "My Name is Bruce", streaming straight from their site. The plot is very "Three Amigos", with a small town kidnapping Bruce and tasking him with taking out a local demon. It's not perfect, but as you can see from my review, there's a lot to like.

"My Name is Bruce" is a terribly funny movie. Bruce nails so many aspects of B movies, Hollywood, and fandom here, that I'm sure anyone who is a regular reader of this site will get a kick out of it. Sure the premise is weak and the 2nd act drags, but there's a lot more to like about it than there is to hate.

So make sure to check the flick out if you haven't already. In the meantime, I'm going to work on my "Curb Your EnBruce-iasm" idea, which I swear to God would make the greatest television show in the history of earth.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"Sam Raimi is very detailed and methodical about everything, as you can see the storyboarding," she continues, pointing out a wall of storyboards. Before them, a miniature graveyard mock-up - evidence of Raimi's preparation for a scene not yet shot. "He's very organized. What I love about him is he's very sensitive as a person and brings that into his characters so he really knows human nature and why we do the things we do."

Rao adds: "There's a tremendous amount of collaboration and you can make a bit of it up, but it has to pass Sam. He's the sniff test meter determining what's good and what isn't. He's such a great collaborator, but also a great leader in the way you can trust him when it is or isn't going to work. I have a great deal of thanks to him. It makes it richer."

It’s hard not to be impressed by Rob Tapert. Along with his creative partners Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen, the man is responsible for some of the best, and most influential fantasy television of all time: first, Xena: Warrior Princess, which starred his wife Lucy Lawless, and now Legend of the Seeker, a surprisingly watchable adaptation of the Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth novels.

Recently, I chatted with Rob via phone from New Zealand, and he soon made it clear what a perfectionist he is — which is an obvious source of frustration in the blindingly fast production pace of series television. As of this posting, Legend of the Seeker has still not officially been picked up for a second season (although things look very good), but that hasn’t stopped Tapert from micro-analyzing everything about the first season and gearing up for an even better second one.

More info on this documentary from Jenny Allen at Lilith's Apple Studios:

Thank you for contacting me. Without giving too much away, the documentary focuses on the impact the Evil Dead movies have made, how it is a piece of Americana, and the property the original movie was filmed on and it's fate. I'm actually going to be filming in Nashville this weekend at the Lone Wolf Convention. We are looking for fans to interview, and already have arrangements from the three girls from the First movie, and already have interviews from Lloyd Kaufman and a couple of locals. Anyone interested in participating can contact me here. If any of them will be at the convention, I'll be doing interviews there as well as selling prints of the cover art.

I heard that you wrote Drag Me to Hell [with brother Ivan Raimi] a long time ago, as a Bruce Campbell vehicle. ... If you ever make another Evil Dead movie with Bruce, will you keep it low-budget like those original films? And what would the story be?

Raimi: We wrote part one thinking that that was the end, I guess, kind of like that. I think this is the end where it was over, and because we couldn't get any other job in Hollywood, somehow, Bruce Campbell survived into the next Evil Dead 2. So we made Evil Dead 2, and that one was written with the knowledge that we would want to make a third one. So, I'm sorry, what was it that you are asking?

I was just wondering, what would be your storyline for the fourth one? Do you know what that is yet?

Raimi: I don't have that. I don't have just some ideas written down, but I said that last month, and there was a very negative reaction from the fans: "Why does he keep talking about that movie? Where is that movie?" It's just because people ask me, but I don't really have anything at all worked out right now.

What about the idea of limiting yourself to a lower budget for an Evil Dead movie, like on Drag Me to Hell, where you didn't have a lot of cranes, wires, CG and so on?

Raimi: It is it's much more viscerally exciting as a director to work on the lower-budget picture like this. This one particularly. I mean, everyone came at it with so much love and attention to detail, versus a much more professional, top-of-the-line, big-game approach. Which is great, because it's like conducting a big orchestra. On the Spider-Man pictures [we have] the best orchestra in the world, and this is like playing in a jazz band. Each has their own rewards.

This is the Original Art for the Land of the Deadites Fan Documentary (currently in production). The print size is 11x17 and comes in an archival bag with a stiff mat board backing to prevent damage. If you live in the Cookeville area and can meet for a pickup, it's $20.00, if you can't pick it up, we can mail for $5.00. To see more original art prints and photography prints, visit us at www.LilithsAppleStudios.com

Monday, April 20, 2009

Raimi: The most important thing is the personnel I work with, from my partner Robert Tapert who produced the Evil Dead films along with my buddy Grant Curtis who was on the set every day making sure everyone had what they needed. Peter Deming from Evil Dead 2 who was our cinematographer is also our cinematographer on this. Almost all the people I've worked with in the past on other stuff like the Evil Dead films [from] prop people to costumers, we were surrounded by a lot of friends. [Also] some of the old sound effects from Evil Dead, my editor Bob Murawski found some of those and put one or two of them into the picture.

Sam Raimi received a surprise Friday evening while screening footage from his new film, Drag Me to Hell: Fangoria's Lifetime Achievement Award. "It's high time you were presented with this," Creation Entertainment guru Adam Malin spoke to thunderous applause before handing the award to a pleasantly shocked Raimi. The director was appearing at Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles: his first appearance at a Fangoria event in 17 years (the last time was to promote Army of Darkness).

Sam Raimi's eagerly anticipated return to horror, Drag Me to Hell, has been slapped with the dreaded PG-13 rating. Dreaded, that is, for horror movie fans who associate the rating with tween-targeted "horror lite" fare like Prom Night and The Haunting of Molly Hartley and not with a director who began his career with the bloody splatter-fests that were the first two Evil Dead movies. That said, the rating isn't a complete shock, given the third Evil Dead film, Army of Darkness, was rated PG-13 and had a distinctly more family-friendly vibe -- not to mention the fact that Raimi's been busy with the Spider-Man movies over the past few years. The rating is "for sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images and language," which sounds good to me, PG-13 or not. You have to remember that:

Raimi is still a good director.

There have been quite a few enjoyable PG-13 horror movies (The Ring, The Others, The Sixth Sense, etc.).

The MPAA has finally made a decision on what to rate Sam Raimi's horror film Drag Me to Hell (set visit), which means one of two cuts that were circulating within the walls at Universal has been decided upon.

A month ago, insiders told ShockTillYouDrop.com that execs were mulling over which cut to release. This was reflected during the test screening process earlier this year when audiences were exposed to either a PG-13 version or an R-rated cut. One source told me there wasn't that much of a difference between the two.

Today, the MPAA announced Drag is getting a PG-13 for "sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images and language." This is going to bode especially well for the studio. It means they'll get more butts in seats. And with the early praise the film is receiving, this might just be a summer horror hit.

I just got back from Delaware and 2 sessions with Shane O'Neill. This is what was done the first session and it took roughly 6 hours: [see above pics]

I'll post pictures of session 2 tomorrow, once I can get some good pics. Today's work was Headless Linda's head in the vice (had to keep Freddie happy) and Henrietta locked in the cellar.

Unfortunately, Shane is booked until the summer and won't be at Hell City, so I'll have to wait until July or August to finish it. The last two pieces will be pages from the Necronomicon and Ash's severed hand flipping the bird, and then just some general background to tie the whole piece together. Sorry, Freddie, no room for Evil Ed -- he got the boot.

The Evil Dead. It's probably, overall, my favorite horror franchise of all time. On my top 100 horror films list that I created last year, it was the only series in which all of the films made the list (Evil Dead at #24, Dead by Dawn at #42 and Army of Darkness at #69). There's just something about these three films that get love from horror fans everywhere.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

This movie is sort of being talked about by fans as Sam Raimi's return to his horror roots. What do you think of that?Raimi: I just want the audience to like it, whatever they. I have no opinion about that. Certainly I haven't been making a horror film since there was the Evil Dead trilogy.

I suppose they're right. This is the first horror film I've made since then. But ... I don't think of it in terms of myself or my career. ... What I think about is I hope the audience likes it, you know? Get scared about it. I don't think most people are aware who the filmmakers are, you know, the audience. I think they're just into it for a good time and a thrill show. ...

He describes Drag Me to Hell as much more complex than the Evil Dead trilogy. Rooted deeper in the real world than the madcap antics of the shotgun/chainsaw-toting Ash and the Deadites. "I can honestly say this is a PG-13 picture, so it's a little less assaultive than the Evil Dead movies which are unrated films. I don't have any grander design or thematic ideas when making this film versus making the Evil Dead films. I'm just trying to make a horror movie that people go to, laugh at, think is suspenseful, get excited about during the monster sequences and go 'Oh gross!' and have those types of funhouse reactions. It's a lower brow goal I really enjoy working in - for me it's a great weight off my shoulders."

Monday, April 13, 2009

by Mike Raicht & Scott Cohn Ashley J. Williams goes to Europe! See what happens when America's most beloved Chosen One travels across the pond and explores the legends and mysteries of Chosen Ones past, including a certain ripper in old London town!

Based on the fact that Zoey is supposed to be a fan of horror films (she even makes a few references to the Evil Dead films) I put her in a black Army of Darkness sweatshirt using the official movie poster for the design. It should work even when puked on by a boomer.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

I ran EvilDeadChainsaws.com for a number of years making prop replica Evil Dead 'hand' chainsaws. Since taking the decision to close it down in January 2008, I have moved onto other projects and have decided to part with my own personal chainsaw & display to enable me to do other things. This display was made by me, for me, about a year ago while EDC.com was still running and is the only display I have ever made. I will not be making any more displays or chainsaws ever. Once its gone, its gone! This auction is for a number of items which all go together to make the display;

Sam Raimi: Well, the difference is so subtle that… I’ll have to tell you that there are different versions. There was an R rated and a PG-13 version, but you saw it before there was any difference between the two. That was the first screening and there’s only six seconds of difference between the two and actually the PG-13 version is six seconds longer than the R rated version.

Quint: Oh yeah?

Sam Raimi: It’s because when a different take is used, it just ended up being technically longer. It’s very confusing, but the versions are very, very similar. It’s really frames.

KNB's involvement with 'Drag Me to Hell':

Sam Raimi: That whole team is excellent. They are great puppeteers. First of all, they really know… If you ask for a particular shot with a particular effect, they know how to present you with options to give you the best shot for that particular angle.

Evil Dead 4Excerpt 1:

Raimi: . . . EVIL DEAD 4 is all about blood and gore and EVIL DEAD movies and I really like the EVIL DEAD movies and I really want to make another EVIL DEAD movie sometime. I don’t want to say when, because everyone keeps getting mad at me…

Quint: It’s like “Yeah, you are going to have to now, or else the fans are going to revolt.” You’ve now said that you are going to do it!

Sam Raimi: I do want to do it!

Evil Dead 4Excerpt 2:

Quint: You had mentioned earlier that you have to do the EVIL DEAD thing, because people just won’t leave you alone about it, but you don’t help yourself when… I heard at COMIC CON, you are talking like “Me and Ivan have an idea and we are going to start writing.”

Sam Raimi: It’s true. I don’t know what to say. Should I just say “No comment?”

Quint: No no no, but I think you are going to see a lot of people after seeing this movie… that thirst is going to be awoken again. People really love you doing genre, so do you have to do it! When do you think that you could? You are doing SPIDERMAN next…

Sam Raimi: That’s a long time, so I guess it’d be nice to work on it after that.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

DRAG ME TO HELL actors Justin Longand Lorna Raver(Fango #283’s cover girl!) have joined the lineup of the upcoming West Coast edition of FANGORIA’s Weekend of Horrors convention, to be held April 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa). Long (of the JEEPERS CREEPERS films and LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD) and Raver (a TV actress who has logged time on STAR TREK: VOYAGER, CHARMED and WEEDS) will join director Sam Raimi on Friday at the show.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Think of all the great combinations in life — peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots, cookies and milk — and the pairing of Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi should rank very high on that list. Campbell, a self-parodying B-movie sensation, is an ever-present staple in Sam Raimi’s repertoire, whether as the heroic lead in “Army of Darkness” or as a clever cameo in the “Spider-Man” movie franchise. If Raimi has his way — and it’s a good bet that he will — there’s a strong chance that Campbell will return to match wits with Peter Parker for a fourth time.

“I would love to have Bruce in ‘Spider-Man 4,’” Raimi told MTV News. “I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but he’s such a source of humor for me. I love working with the guy. He’s a great and really dedicated actor, as much as we kid each other all the time. I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I hope that he would [be in the film].”

i have made a Evil Dead Chainsaw this winter ... with a old Homelite Xl ,i have remove the motor , made the blade in polystyrene , add a real chain but it'sdosen't functionnal . Let me know what do you think

I am selling off my collection of UK quads. Here is the quad for the film Evil Dead II from 1987 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. What a great film, and this poster is now rare and sought after by collectors. The poster is in a black frame and has a perspex front. The poster has the normal quad folds and measures 40" by 30" but no other pin holes or tears. The artwork is brilliant on the poster and is a must for any horror fan. I have put a cd in the picture just so you can appreciate the size of the poster, but if your looking at this rare poster then I am sure you know about quads!!

Been a bit since we had any updates on Bubba Nosferatu. But frankly who cares? Bruce Campbell is not involved so my level of interest is pretty close to none at this point. Ron Perlman will instead star. Do not get me wrong I like Ron Perlman but if I am going to watch a b-movie it has to star Bruce or for some reason my interest level plummets. Bubba Ho-Tep was genius and Bruce is why it was genius. In an interview with FearNet Ron Perlman updated them on the films progress saying;

“It’s a follow-up to Bubba Ho Tep. Don Coscarelli made that wonderful cult film and Bruce Campbell played Elvis. This is a follow-up to that. Bruce, for one reason or another decided that he didn’t want to go on with the character and they asked if I would and I definitely would. It is on track and with any help from the gods and the elements we’ll be shooting that thing next fall.”

You will recall that Paul Giamatti is on board to play Col Parker in the sequel alongside Perlman. Paul Giamatti's production company is also producing the film.

Without Bruce Campbell are you interested in seeing this film? Did you like the first one?